Potential Environmental Risks of Aquifer Recharge Using Treated Wastewater in MENA Countries

In several MENA countries, turning to mechanical treatment using activated sludge and secondary and tertiary aeration ponds has significantly enhanced the sewage’s both quantity and quality. Using treated wastewater may increase an aquifer’s groundwater supply and quality; these options are practical when access to conventional fresh raw water sources gets severely limited. Artificial recharge techniques have previously been identified to boost groundwater levels and improve water quality in several groundwater aquifers. The results showed that treating wastewater before injecting it back into groundwater aquifers is a helpful method for artificial recharge, the findings of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) in the coastal aquifer north of Oman showed that MAR methods combined with managing agricultural wells and relocating public wells may increase the volume abstracted for drinking by 200%. Additionally, the Zarqa River in Jordan was studied, and the findings showed that the water table rose by 29 m after the injection of the treated wastewater. It is recommended to acquire recharged water of adequate quality at a distance of 1500 m from the infiltration basin. However, further research with well-designed monitoring systems are required to assess how the recharge process affects groundwater quantity and quality.